Calibrating apparatus for liquid tanks



Feb 21, 1933. E. B. LINTON 1,898,734

CALIBRATING APPARATUS FOR LIQUID TANKS Filed Nov. 25, 1931 Patented Feb.21, 1933 EARL BRYANT LINTON, or n 'nn JANEIRO, BRAZIL CALIBRATINGAPPARATUS FOR LIQUID TANKS Application filed November 25, 1931. SerialNo. 577,360.

This invention is a novel calibrating apparatus for liquid tanks of allkinds, andthe 10 levels upon oneface of the gauge stick as the tank isbeing filled, the arm being oscillated by suitable spring or othermechanism,simi lar to the well known metronome, removably mounted uponthe float, whereby the various levels of the liquid corresponding withamounts successively poured into the tank during filling will becalibrated directly upon the gauge stick. The apparatus is designedprimarily for use, when the tank is being filled for the first time, inmaking thenecessary gauge stick, but obviously is not of necessitylimited or restricted to such use.

Another object. of the invention is to pro- 'vide a calibratingapparatus consisting of a float carrying an arm oscillating mechanismremovable as a unit from the float when it is desired to windthe mainspring of the mechamsm.

provide the gauge stick with a sliding wedge adapted to bind the floatto the stick thereby avoiding defacement of the calibrations on thestick when removing the apparatus from the tank.

Other minor objects will be hereinafter set forth. i

I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawingwhich illustrates one practical embodiment thereofto enable others toadopt and use the same; and will summarize in the claims the novelfeatures of construction, and novel combinations of parts, for whichprotection is desired.

In said drawing:

Fig. 1 is a section showing an underground liquid tank with my novelcalibrating apparatus in operative position during the fillingoperation; g V

Fig. 2- is an enlarged vertlcal section A still further object of theinvention is to through the float and arm oscillating mechanism;

Fig. 3 is an 83, Fig. 2.

In the drawing the tank A for holding or storing gasoline, fuel oil, orany other liquids, is shownembedded below the ground surface B, andprovided with the usual filling pipe 0, and avent pipe D, in the usualmanner, and also provided with a gauging pipe E. Pipes Gand E may beprovided ,with the usual closure plugs (not shown) of any type when notin use, Such embedded tanks are not standard, and moreover areusuallyconstructed non-rectangularin cross-section, and the cubicalcontentsfor. any liquid level therefore cannot be readily ascertained asthe diameters, lengths, and shapes of the end plates of the tanks vary.l Vhen thetank is being filled for the first timea gauge stick 1.mustnecessarily be calibrated so that by lowering the gauge stick 1 downthrough the gauge open ing E the contents for any liquid level may bereadily ascertained.

My novel calibrating apparatus comprises a gauge stick 1 preferably ofrectangular cross-section and of sufficient length to reach to thebottom of tank A when inserted down through the gauging pipe E. Thegauge stick 1 is preferably made of wood but may be made of othersuitable material. If made of wood, a strip'of paper- 1 is preferablyattached to the face of the stick upon which the markings are to bemade, whereby the levels of the liquid for the various quantities pouredin through the filling hose F may be readily calibrated thereon, ashereinafter described. An eyelet 1 maybe provided in the top of thegauge stick 1; and upon the bottom of the stick 1 is screwed orotherwise secured a plate 1 to prevent the float 2 from dropping 0E thelower. end of the stick while the stick is being lowered into or removedfrom the tank.

Slidably mounted upon the gauge stick 1 is a float casing 2, adapted tofloat upon the surface of the liquid, said casing 2 being sufiienlargedsection on the line ciently small in diameter to pass in and out of thegauging pipe E, whereby the assembled float and stick may be insertedinto the tank. An offset opening 2 in the float 2, is provided for thepassage of the gauge stick 1, which opening is somewhat larger than thegauge stick but of same shape as the cross-section of the stick topermit the float casing 2 to readily slide but not rotate upon the gaugestick.

Upon the upper face of the float 2 adjacent the opening 2 is anupstanding hollow portion 2 ,-o.pen at, its upper end and-preferably. ofrectangular cross-section, said-portion 2 being adapted to removablyreceive and 'support the arm oscillatingmechanisminserted as a unittherein downwardly through the open upper end, said oscillating;mechanism closing the upper end of the float portion 2 The oscillatingmechanism .is. housed inv a removable casing 3 of rectangularcross-section, closed=at its bottom bya plate 3, but having its upperedges flanged outwardly asat- 3 "to rest upon the upper; edge ofportionfZ of the float and thereby properly position the removablecasing 3' in the float;

-Withinthe removable casing 3 ,is an oscillating armft' adaptedtooscillate across the face-of the gauge stick 1 or paper strip 1*, whichisto receive the markings, the arm t being preferably operated by agear-train denoted generally by the numeral 5' receiving motionby springmeans 6 CDIltillIlBCllIl the casing 3, which spring means 61s ormay besimilar-to the well =known metronome mechanism used inteachingpiano-forte. The gear-train 5 and spr ng 61s not shown hereinindetailas such mechanisms are well known in-thc art. \Vhen it isdesired to wind the,

spring aneans 6:the removable casing8 may. be-lifted outof thefioat 2.The arc of swing of therarm eshouldbe less than the, width of the. facerot-stick 1 or paper strip 1; and-the.

stick 1 is made of metal, the marking thereon V 1 may be done with ahardened scriber of metal or other material.

I preferablyprovide a sliding wedge 7'jon' the face ot-gauge. stick 1opposite from. that receiving the markings by pencil' t which wedge isthicker at its. upp'erend than at its lower end; whereby when. the wedge(f is pushed downwardly relatively to stick l'the thicker upper portion.of the wedge 7,wil l bind the. float 2 against the stick land lock samethereto as in Fig. 3, wherebythe sticlelandj float 2 may be removed fromthe tank A with: out permitting the oscillatingpencn 4: to de-.

face the calibrations made on the stick. The

wedge 7 may however be omittedjif desired;

In operation, theguide stick 1 ,with; the fio at 2 carrying theoscillating arm mechanism.

mounted thereon is inserted through. the gauging pipe E; The float 2'wil l always rest n. he u ce of thel qu dth n, nd he: calibratingoperation is started by setting the.

oscillating arm 4 in motion, and by pouring into tank A through hose F,inserted in the filling opening C, a predetermined quantity of liquid.The oscillating arm 4 carrying the scriber 4 will mark transversearcuate lines across the face of the gauge stick 1 or paper strip 1 asshown in Fig. 1. While the liquid';i's.-.bei-ng poured intothe tank, andthe levelof the liquid therein constantly rising, the'lines marked onthe gauge stick by the scribed 4t? willbe thin and zig-zag as shown at Xin Fig. 1, but when each measured quantity of liquid, poured into thetank, comes to rest and during the short intervals between successivefilling operations the lines will be superimposedand the pencil 4 willsubstantiallyretrace. the same. are, and hence'the heavier linesindicated'at'Y Fig. 1;

lockedto the gauge stick by manipulating the wedge-7, and the gaugestick 1, with the float 2, withdrawn from the gauging pipe E,

and the heavy lines 1 or, the gauge stick 1 maybe used-to transfer theinformation to a permanentgauge stick,

proper connection being made. for the normal heightof'the swinging,pencil lfabove the,

liquid level:

. Obviously the-apparatus, while designed; primarily for use incalibrating the gauge" stickrwhen the tank is-b'eing filled for thefirst time, may be used for other purposes;

' I'clainr: i

1. A liquid, level calibrating apparatus comprising a gaugestick afloat'adj acentthe stick, and an oscillating scriber carriedbythe-floatada-pted tomark upon the stick.

2. A liquid level calibrating apparatus comprising a gauge stick, afloat, guided'by. th e stick, and an" oscillating scriber carried by thefloat adapted to mark upon theface of the stick. 1

3. A liquid level calibrating apparatus comprising-a gauge stick, afloat casing-having an openingslidably receivin-gihe stick, andair-oscillating scriber carried the'fl'oat adapted to mark upon the faceof the-stick;

4. liquid; level calibratingapparatus comprising a gauge stick adaptedto beiin-h sert-ed in the; liquid; ,afloat casing adjacent the-stick;an; oscillatory a-rm-adaptedrto mark.- uponthe I stick; andmeans-.o-n-zthe ifloat 'for oscillating the; arm.

5-,A'- liq i level, a ibra ingr pp ratus:

ompri ing ee ge a t ki dapted t n:

sertedrin. the. liquid .a fioat.casinghavingan opening slidablyrec'eiving the. sticln; an Losi atory. rm. hav ng, asc er adapted ark.po the; t ck; nd spring operated m nss ri jby e o t o cil atingthfa arm.

6.,In a liquid level calibrating apparatus;

I permanently marked to calibrate the: measured quantities Of liquid,

a float casing; an oscillatory arm having a scriber, and a spring motorcarried by the float for oscillating the arm.

7. In apparatus as set forth in claim 6, said float casing having anoneningtherein adjacent the arm for the purpose specified.

8. In a liquid level calibrating apparatus, a float casing; anvupstanding portion having an open upper end; a removable casing in saidupstanding portion; an oscillatory arm carrying a scriber mounted in theremovable casing; and spring means for oscillating the arm carried bythe removable casing.

9. In apparatus as set forth in claim 8, said float casing having anopening therein adjacent the arm for the purpose specified.

EARL BRYANT LINTON.

